Amazing Spider-Man (Vol. 1) #542 Review

The Amazing Spider-Man #542
Title: “Back in Black” Part 4 of 5
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Penciler: Ron Garney
Inker: Bill Reinhold
Colorist: Matt Milla

Plot: Wilson Fisk, The Kingpin, throws some uncomfortably true taunts at Spider-Man, who responds violently with his fists. Fisk stays cool, mocks Spidey a little bit more, and gets beaten up a little bit more. Our hero sheds his shirt and mask, explaining to Fisk that Spider-Man isn’t there to kill him; Peter Parker is. He then pulverizes the Kingpin into a tenderized sack of blood and lard.
Peter informs his enemy that he will kill him, but not right away. Fisk will die when Aunt May dies. Until then, he’ll have to stew in the humiliation of having been yanked up by his fat and bitch slapped into submission in front of every convict in New York.
Peter returns to the hospital, where Mary Jane alerts him to their dwindling finances. They’ll either have to move May into a cheaper hospital or find a new, perhaps unseemly way to fund the treatment.

Likes:

– Spidey disrespected the Kingpin’s face! I’ll admit that this was a cheap way to let Pete keep his edgy attitude without actually killing somebody, but it beats any of the obvious clichés like him faltering at the last second. It’s also clear that Fisk’s punishment isn’t as simple as mere humiliation. “Kingpin” is more than a position or a title to him; it’s part of who he is. He’s always been the top dog in every situation, even in prison, but Spider-Man just took that Kingpin-ness away from him.

– The art is mixed this time, but parts I like include a striking two-page spread of Peter clocking Fisk in the jaw, the aforementioned slapping sequence, and the prisoners’ disgusted and pitying stares at the once-mighty Kingpin.

Dislikes:

– Sadly, the fight wasn’t very exciting. I know the story wouldn’t have been as effective if Spider-Man didn’t utterly dominate Fisk to get his message across, but I barely got the sense that Kingpin was even trying to defend himself. Better art might have conveyed more of a struggle.

– Some of the Kingpin’s facial contortions look dangerously Ramos-esque.

Favorite (Cheesy-Yet-Awesome) Quote: Spider-Man: “I’m not here to kill you.” (He takes off his mask.)

Peter Parker: “I am.”

Rating: 3.5 out of 5. A satisfying beat down.